Lester's Dreadful Sweaters

Reach for this book when your child is struggling to navigate the tricky boundary between being polite to family members and maintaining their own sense of self. It is a perfect choice for children who feel overwhelmed by 'well-meaning' adults or those who are highly sensitive to how they are perceived by peers. The story follows Lester, a boy who values neatness and style, as his life is upended by Cousin Clara and her non-stop knitting of truly hideous, oversized sweaters. While the situation is absurd and funny, the emotional core is deeply relatable: how do we say 'no' to someone we care about without being hurtful? It normalizes the frustration of having one's personal preferences ignored while modeling a clever, gentle way to assert independence. It is an ideal read for elementary-aged children who are beginning to develop a distinct identity and need to see that it is okay to stand up for their own comfort and tastes.